Patents by Inventor David Roberts McMurtry
David Roberts McMurtry has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20240001447Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object, including a processing chamber having a processing chamber aperture, scanner arranged to direct an energy beam to locations in a plane of the aperture and debuilding chamber having a debuilding chamber aperture. The apparatus includes a build chamber including a build sleeve and platform movable therein for supporting powder, the platform including a seal for engaging with the sleeve walls to prevent flow of powder past the platform; and at least one drive mechanism for driving movement of the platform. A translation mechanism moves the chamber between a building position, wherein the sleeve aligns with the processing aperture so an energy beam can be delivered to consolidate powder to build the object, and debuilding position, wherein the sleeve aligns with the debuilding aperture so the object and powder can be inserted into the debuilding chamber through movement of the platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Hugo George DERRICK, Nneji KEMAKOLAM
-
Publication number: 20230375321Abstract: A coordinate positioning machine includes a plurality of drive axes, each being a rotary or linear drive axis, for positioning a platform within a working volume of the machine, and a separate linear counterbalance axis for counterbalancing the platform. With this arrangement the counterbalance axis can be substantially invariant to changes in orientation of the drive axes and can be counterbalanced by a simple counterweight. Also, an arrangement wherein the counterbalance axes and force generator are arranged so horizontal movement of the platform causes substantially no net movement of and/or no work to be done on the generator. Also, an arrangement wherein a series of counterbalance axes has at least one rotary counterbalance axis, and the generator is arranged behind or at a predetermined distance from the counterbalance axis. Also, an arrangement having a series of counterbalance axes with at most one rotary counterbalance axis between the generator and ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Stephen Mark ANGOOD
-
Publication number: 20230302538Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an alignment of an optical scanner for directing an electromagnetic beam to locations within a scan field. The method may include locating a reference element within the scan field of the optical scanner and controlling the optical scanner to cause the electromagnetic beam to be directed to a plurality of different points in the scan field, including at least one point on the reference element. Reflected electromagnetic radiation is detected. The method may include determining when the electromagnetic beam is directed to a reference position in the scan field given by the reference element from a comparison of an intensity of the detected electromagnetic radiation for the different points and determining a corresponding demand signal that causes the optical scanner to direct the electromagnetic beam to the reference position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2021Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, John DARDIS
-
Patent number: 11691342Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Christopher John Sutcliffe, Robin Geoffrey Weston, Paul Campton, David John Whitton, David Beeby
-
Patent number: 11325188Abstract: This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building objects by layerwise consolidation of material. The apparatus includes a build chamber containing a working area, a high energy beam for consolidating material deposited in the working area in layers and a flow device for generating a gas flow across at least a part of the working area from a gas inlet to a gas outlet. The gas inlet and gas outlet are arranged to be movable within the build chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Marc Dimter, Ralph Mayer
-
Patent number: 11300408Abstract: A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine is provided that comprises an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine, and a constraint member associated with the extendable leg assembly for providing a predetermined part of the extendable leg assembly with substantially a same orientation relative to gravity for a same position of the component within the working volume. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation relative to gravity is maintained substantially constant, so that a plane defined by the predetermined part is substantially aligned with gravity, as the component is moved around the working volume.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Stephen Mark Angood, Colin Ray Bulled, David James Fook, Marcus James Eales, Christopher Kemp
-
Publication number: 20220054967Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus and method includes a build platform for supporting a powder bed onto which layers of a powder can be deposited, a scanner for scanning an energy beam over each layer to fuse selected regions of the powder bed and a gas flow circuit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed. The gas flow circuit includes a filter assembly including a filter housing through which the gas flows, the filter housing containing a granulate, preferably powder, filter medium for filtering particles from the gas flow. The powder filter medium may correspond to powder used to form the powder bed such as being of the same material as the powder used to form the powder bed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2019Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Geoffrey MCFARLAND, Kenneth Cheng-Hoe NAI
-
Patent number: 11236987Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus having a load bearing structure. The load bearing structure has at least one elongate corner piece providing at least two bearing surfaces, one on each side of the corner, for a carriage moveable along the load bearing structure, and at least one piece of sheet material which extends along the at least one elongate corner piece and provides at least one load bearing facet.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Hugo George Derrick, Stephen Paul Hunter, David Andrew Larkham, David Roberts McMurtry
-
Publication number: 20210379828Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Christopher John SUTCLIFFE, Robin Geoffrey WESTON, Paul CAMPTON, David John WHITTON, David BEEBY
-
Patent number: 11123799Abstract: This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building objects by layerwise consolidation of material. The apparatus comprises a build chamber 101 containing a working area, a plurality of high energy beams 133, 233 for consolidating material deposited in the working area in layers and an optical unit 135 for controlling transmission of the high energy beams onto material in the working area. The optical unit 135 comprises a plurality of independently controllable optical elements 141, 241 each optical element 141, 241 for controlling transmission of at least one of the high energy beams onto the material in the working area, the optical unit 135 movable in the build chamber 101.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Geoffrey McFarland, Nicholas John Weston, Ben Ian Ferrar
-
Patent number: 11123924Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Christopher Sutcliffe, Robin Geoffrey Weston, Paul Campton, David John Whitton, David Beeby
-
Patent number: 10982334Abstract: The invention provides a substrate treatment method and apparatus. Embodiments show a substrate in the form of a rotary encoder ring having a pattern of marks producable by means of a laser treatment device controllable to produce the pattern in the correct manner while there is continuous relative displacement between the ring and the laser treatment device.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Alexander David Scott Ellin, James Reynolds Henshaw, David Roberts McMurtry
-
Publication number: 20210010808Abstract: A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine is provided that comprises an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine, and a constraint member associated with the extendable leg assembly for providing a predetermined part of the extendable leg assembly with substantially a same orientation relative to gravity for a same position of the component within the working volume. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation relative to gravity is maintained substantially constant, so that a plane defined by the predetermined part is substantially aligned with gravity, as the component is moved around the working volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Stephen Mark ANGOOD, Colin Ray BULLED, David James FOOK, Marcus James EALES, Christopher KEMP
-
Patent number: 10816335Abstract: A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine is provided that comprises an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine, and a constraint member associated with the extendable leg assembly for providing a predetermined part of the extendable leg assembly with substantially a same orientation relative to gravity for a same position of the component within the working volume. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation relative to gravity is maintained substantially constant, so that a plane defined by the predetermined part is substantially aligned with gravity, as the component is moved around the working volume.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Stephen Mark Angood, Colin Ray Bulled, David James Fook, Marcus James Eales, Christopher Kemp
-
Publication number: 20200309500Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus having a load bearing structure. The load bearing structure has at least one elongate corner piece providing at least two bearing surfaces, one on each side of the corner, for a carriage moveable along the load bearing structure, and at least one piece of sheet material which extends along the at least one elongate corner piece and provides at least one load bearing facet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: Hugo George DERRICK, Stephen Paul HUNTER, David Andrew LARKHAM, David Roberts MCMURTRY
-
Publication number: 20200016838Abstract: A powder bed fusion apparatus for building an object in a layer-by-layer manner includes a build platform movable within a build sleeve to define a build volume, a layer formation device for forming layers of powder across the build volume in a working plane and an irradiation device for irradiating powder in the working plane to selectively fuse the powder. The powder bed fusion apparatus further includes a mechanical manipulator arranged to engage with the object and/or a build substrate, to which the object is attached, to tilt the object in a raised position above the working plane such that powder is freed from the object and deposited at a location above the working plane and/or into the build volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Christopher SUTCLIFFE, Robin Geoffrey WESTON, Paul CAMPTON, David John WHITTON, David BEEBY
-
Publication number: 20190329323Abstract: This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building objects by layerwise consolidation of material. The apparatus comprises a build chamber 101 containing a working area, a plurality of high energy beams 133, 233 for consolidating material deposited in the working area in layers and an optical unit 135 for controlling transmission of the high energy beams onto material in the working area. The optical unit 135 comprises a plurality of independently controllable optical elements 141, 241 each optical element 141, 241 for controlling transmission of at least one of the high energy beams onto the material in the working area, the optical unit 135 movable in the build chamber 101.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Geoffrey MCFARLAND, Nicholas John WESTON, Ben Ian FERRAR
-
Patent number: 10399145Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus for building objects by layerwise consolidation of material. The apparatus includes a build chamber containing a working area, a plurality of high energy beams for consolidating material deposited in the working area in layers and an optical unit for controlling transmission of the high energy beams onto material in the working area. The optical unit includes a plurality of independently controllable optical elements each optical element for controlling transmission of at least one of the high energy beams onto the material in the working area, the optical unit movable in the build chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts McMurtry, Geoffrey McFarland, Nicholas John Weston, Ben Ian Ferrar
-
Publication number: 20190184463Abstract: This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building objects by layerwise consolidation of material. The apparatus includes a build chamber containing a working area, a high energy beam for consolidating material deposited in the working area in layers and a flow device for generating a gas flow across at least a part of the working area from a gas inlet to a gas outlet. The gas inlet and gas outlet are arranged to be movable within the build chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2019Publication date: June 20, 2019Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, Marc DIMTER, Ralph MAYER
-
Publication number: 20190178618Abstract: A method is described for measuring an object using a machine tool and a scanning probe. The scanning probe is driven along a scan path relative to the object whilst the scanning probe acquires probe data describing a series of positions on the surface of the object relative to the scanning probe. The scan path includes at least a first scan path segment for producing probe data that can be analysed to measure the object. The scan path is also arranged to impart a plurality of identifiable probe motions to the scanning probe that can be identified from the acquired probe data alone. Each identifiable probe motion is used to define a time stamp. This allows the probe data to be tied to commanded or nominal positions around the scan path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: RENISHAW PLCInventors: David Roberts MCMURTRY, John Charles OULD